BACKPACK PROGRAM

Special note: Start2Finish works directly with schools and school boards to donate backpacks to students in need within their schools. We do NOT give backpacks directly to individuals, families or organizations. Please note we donate backpacks only in Canada. For parents/guardians, please speak with your child's school about any possible backpack donation.

For companies and community groups making a donation, please contact our Backpack Program Coordinator, Michelle Wray, at michelle.wray@start2finishonline.org before starting your Backpack campaign!

The Start2Finish Backpack Program provides vital school supplies to thousands of kids who begin the school year without the proper essentials.  Each September, Start2Finish, in cooperation with school boards and local administrators, identifies children with the greatest needs in low-income communities across the nation.  The program equips students with the tools needed to help “even the playing field” and prepare them for a successful school year and beyond.  The S2F Backpack Program distributes backpacks to the most at-risk children in schools nationwide.

How You Can Help

Your organization can get involved in one of two ways – by making a financial donation to the program, or by collecting supplies and filling backpacks.

Financial Sponsorship

Without the generous support and partnership of businesses and community organizations, Start2Finish would be greatly limited in its impact on our communities and the children we serve. Any donation is valuable and appreciated, and most contributions are tax receiptable.

“In the Bag” Back to School Supply Drive

The Back to School Supply Drive is a fun way to involve your whole organization, and allows everyone a “hands on” opportunity to more actively participate. Using the Backpack Contents List below to ensure all backpacks provide children with the vital tools they need, members of your organization can collect brand-new school supplies to fill as many backpacks as you choose, either individually or corporately.

The bags are packed and distributed to schools in September.

Below is the Backpack Contents List:

Grades K-3

• 1 Pkg. Lead Pencils

• 1 Pkg. Crayons

• 1 Pencil Case

• 1 Eraser

• 1 Pencil Sharpener

• 1 Glue Stick

• 1 Pkg. Construction Paper

• 1 Pkg. of Exercise Books

Grades 4-8

• 1 Binders (1-2 inches)

• 1 Pkgs. Lined Paper (200 sheets each)

• 1 Notebook

• 2 Report Covers/Duo Tangs

• 1 Pkg. Pencil Crayons (12 pack)

• 1 Pkg. of Pens

• 2 Highlighters (1 pk. of two or two individual)

• 1 Pencil Case

• 1 Glue Stick

• 2 Erasers

• 1 Pencil Sharpener

• 1 Pkg. of Pencils

VIRTUAL SUPPLY DRIVE

The Virtual Supply Drive enables organizations, businesses, and community groups to support the backpack drive even while being apart. Colleagues and affiliates can make use of this opportunity to collect backpacks and school supplies from the Backpack Contents List provided and drop them off at a central location determined by your company.

Start2Finish Backpack Program Guideline and Q&A

Do I have to include everything you have on the list for the age range I am providing backpacks for?

YES – It is important that we are providing all of the same items on the list to ensure each child has the tools to succeed equally. We may also need to combine your donated backpacks with others going to the same location and we want to know they will all provide the same excitement.

Can I use different package sizes for items shown on the list?

ABSOLUTELY – There are so many varieties of items to choose from so yes you can use different pack sizes for items. We just ask that they are not excessive or take up too much space in the backpack so all items required can be included. Example: 10 pack of pens vs. a 6 pack of pens or 200 sheet refill paper vs. 150 sheet refill paper

Can I add additional items not shown on the list provided?

ONLY LIST ITEMS PLEASE – Although we love the generosity, we created our backpack lists based on the needs specified by parents and educational facilities to provide a consistent selection of supplies. We also may need to combine donations to equal the needs at each location, and it is so important that your backpacks match everyone else’s. Feel free to box those extra items up and label them accordingly as we can often utilize them in our programs across Canada as prizes or incentives throughout the program.

If I have leftover items can I just add extra stuff to some backpacks?

NO - We ask that you please stick to the specified list of items and quantities provided to ensure all students receive the same great experience as their classmates. Also, those extra items make consistent packaging and shipping much more challenging. If you end up with extra items we ask that you please box them up separately to be donated and label them accordingly as we can always use them towards other initiatives.

Can I add food, snacks, or drink containers to the backpacks?

NO – It is very important that food or drink items are NEVER added to backpacks as children may have allergies to certain products, and our distribution is not always immediate, therefore items could expire before they are received. Rest assured that our programs all provide a healthy snack for the children each week to give them the energy and nutrition they need to learn and participate.

How should I package the backpacks for drop off or pick up?

It is so helpful to us to have a consistent packaging process to enable our volunteers to receive and re-distribute your generous backpack donations quickly and efficiently. To complete this we need to ensure we know exactly what is being donated with clear detailed labeling and secure packaging.

Please ensure the following is completed to allow us to complete this efficiently

BOXES - Source solid corrugated boxes that will hold approximately 4 to 6 backpacks and are ideally all the same size. An example would be item #694019 from Staples which measures 20”L x 14”W x 12”H. Anything larger becomes too heavy to lift for both yourself and our volunteers. Please seal each box with tape so they don’t break open during transportation.

LABELS - Please ensure each box is labeled with the following 2 things…

1. The quantity of backpacks enclosed in the box

2. The grade level they were created for (either Grade 1-3 OR Grade 4-8)

details & Deadlines

• August 12, 2022 — Deadline for backpack collection

2020 BACKPACK PROGRAM AND TEACHER KIT RECIPIENTS 

St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay School

Central Spryfield Elementary School

Harbour View School

Chebucto Heights Elementary School

North Kipling Jr. Middle School

Thorncliffe Park Public School

Pauline Johnson Jr. Public School

Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public School

Sprucecourt Public School

Bennetto School

St. Ann Catholic Elementary School

Oakwood Public School

St. Louis Elementary School

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary

St Alfred Separate School

Molly Brant Elementary School

John Grave Simcoe Public School

Ecole Polson Park Public School

Trafalgar Public School

FD Roosevelt Public School

Woodland Heights Public School

Wilfrid Jury Public School

Wilton Grove Public School

For more information, please contact the Start2Finish office at 1-888-320-8844, or contact Michelle Wray at michelle.wray@start2finishonline.org.